News: North America

Crime

As controversy swirls, François Legault concedes Islamophobia exists in Quebec 'Everything must be done to denounce and combat hatred and intolerance,' Quebec premier says

February 1, 2019   

(CBC) Quebec Premier François Legault has clarified his controversial comments about Islamophobia, now saying such discrimination exists but that it is not widespread. In a statement Friday, the premier’s office said Legault meant to say that there isn’t an “undercurrent” of Islamophobia in Quebec. “Quebecers are open […]

Crime

Quebec doesn’t have a problem with Islamophobia, Premier Legault says 'It's voluntary blindness': Muslim leaders disagree with the premier's assertion

January 31, 2019   

(CBC) Premier François Legault says there’s no need for a day devoted to action against Islamophobia — because Islamophobia isn’t a problem in the province. Legault made the comments two days after the second anniversary of the Quebec City mosque attack, when the deputy premier, Geneviève Guilbault, said the […]

Government & Politics

Dem leaders defend freshmen Tlaib, Omar

January 29, 2019   

(Hill) House Democratic leaders on Tuesday defended progressive freshman Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.) against GOP accusations of anti-Semitism for their views toward Israel. The two freshmen have drawn ire from Republicans for their support of the boycott, divestment […]

Academics & Education

Brooklyn Historical Society hosts panel on Muslim leadership in city schools Dr. Debbie Almontaser’s new study forms basis for BHS winter series

January 28, 2019   

(Brooklyn Eagle) “We want to be provocative — but in the best possible way,” said Brooklyn Historical Society President Deborah Schwartz as she introduced the latest entry in the organization’s winter events: a roundtable discussion featuring Dr. Debbie Almontaser, founding principal of […]

Legal

Texan captured in Syria brought back to U.S., charged with trying to aid ISIS Warren Christopher Clark was captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces earlier this month and transferred to U.S. custody this week.

January 25, 2019   

(NBC) Warren Christopher Clark, a Texas man recently captured with ISIS fighters in Syria, has been brought back to the U.S. by law enforcement and faces charges of aiding ISIS. Clark was captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a largely Kurdish militia, […]

Children & Teens

Community leaders work to head off anti-Muslim backlash as Kingston terror arrests wind up political debate Groups want to send message that terror plot allegations have nothing to do with Islam

January 25, 2019 and   

(CBC) Community leaders are working to calm fears and find ways to prevent an anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant backlash in the wake of two arrests related to an alleged terrorist plot in Kingston, Ont. — yet the probe already has touched off a political […]

Children & Teens

RCMP charge Kingston, Ont., youth with terror-related offence after security probe 20-year-old man also arrested Thursday was later released without charge

January 25, 2019 , and   

(CBC) The RCMP’s national security team has arrested and charged an Ontario youth with a terrorism-related offence, the police force said Friday following an investigation in Kingston, Ont. Police have laid two charges against the young person, who is accused of knowingly facilitating a […]

Government & Politics

Omar, Tlaib come under fire from GOP

January 25, 2019   

(Hill) Freshman Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, are drawing fire from Republicans in their first weeks since taking office. House GOP leaders condemned the appointment of Omar, a Minnesota progressive, […]

Government & Politics

Pro-Israel groups take issue with appointment of Omar to House Foreign Affairs Committee While several pro-Israel groups criticized the appointment of Rep. Ilhan Omar, who has endorsed BDS, as a 'dangerous development,' others expressed confidence in the pro-Israel leadership of the committee to counter her. J Street contends the attacks on her are 'bigoted and deeply wrong.'

January 23, 2019   

(JNS) It didn’t take long for Jewish and Israel-related groups to react to the appointment of anti-Israel Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) to the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Along with several other new members of Congress, Omar has gained considerable attention as part of […]